Brainstorming for leadership

A new IMD program brings ASSA ABLOY ’s most senior leaders together for an intensive week of learning and brainstorming.

More than 200 ASSA ABLOY employees from 32 countries have participated in executive education programs from IMD, the world-leading business school, since the Swiss-based institution began collaborating with ASSA ABLOY in 2005. A new program called Boosting Market Leadership was launched in 2011. The program, which will be held once or twice a year, focuses on key strategic priorities, market leadership, innovation and growth. It is designed to give senior leaders within the ASSA ABLOY Group a relevant and inspirational learning experience.

Allen Wong, vice president operations and technology, ASSA ABLOY Asia Pacific, has participated in two IMD programs, most recently in late 2011. “It was a very good experience,” Allen says. “I learned a lot and it was quite intense, but enjoyable. I learned as much from the knowledge and views of my colleagues in the class as from the IMDprogram itself.”

He says the Boosting Market Leadership program had a bigger variety of participants from different geographical regions and functions than the previous program. “It was much easier for non-native English speakers to voice their view and have their opinions considered,” says Allen, who is based in Hong Kong. “We should keep this mix.” Allen has already applied two models he learned about at the program, one regarding incentives and the other to do with values.

“The program is very relevant to our job and our leadership development,” he says. The main benefits for Allen were learning new ways of thinking, how to adapt new models, and most importantly, “reflecting on my style of management so that I can be more effective.”